Activists want flavoured tobacco banned
Youth are biggest users of products
The “sugar-coating” of tobacco products to make them more attractive to youth is unacceptable, according to health organizations in the province, who say they’re hopeful the Alberta government will adopt legislation in the spring that bans the sale of all flavoured tobacco products.
Members of the Campaign for a Smoke-Free Alberta argue flavoured cigarillos, menthol cigarettes, chew tobacco and tobacco in water pipes are favoured by about two-thirds of tobacco users under 18.
“You are taking a very toxic, very addictive product and making it more enticing,” said Les Hagen of Action on Smoking and Health.
Legislation that would support a ban was proposed this fall. Bill 206, a private member’s bill sponsored by Lloydminster MLA Dr. Richard Starke, received first reading last week. It seeks to amend the Tobacco Reduction Act by prohibiting the sale of flavoured tobacco products.
The provincial government’s 10-year tobacco reduction strategy, introduced in late November, also aims to restrict the sale of flavoured tobacco between 2012 and 2015.
But since the fall sitting of the legislature adjourned this week, it’s not clear how the province will approach legislation regarding banning or restricting flavoured tobacco in the spring session, Starke said.
Bart Johnson, press secretary to health minister Fred Horne, said restricting flavoured tobacco sales will be a “priority” for the legislature’s next sitting.
Starke said it’s an essential move toward curbing tobacco use among youths.
“These products are specifically geared and targeted towards youth and trying to get youth addicted to nicotine and therefore become smokers,” he said, noting that among adult smokers, flavoured tobacco accounts for just two per cent of consumption.
Starke said the work of high school students in his own constituency was a big factor in his sponsoring the bill.
Lloydminster students participated the Canadian Cancer Society’s national “Flavour … Gone!” campaign against flavoured tobacco by running a postcard campaign.
“I’ve been in touch with them throughout this process and they’re just thrilled that something they started is now a part of legislation,” Starke said.
But both Starke and Barb Borkent, a program specialist in tobacco with the Lung Association of Alberta and Northwest Territories, said there are other initiatives that can be taken to reduce youth tobacco use.
Borkent said she’d like to see the government follow through on educational initiatives outlined in the tobacco reduction strategy, including the expansion of tobacco education programs in schools as well as more peer-led engagements. She said peer education programs have proven to be a best practice in preventing youth tobacco use.